Effect of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic Acid, and ethylene on changes in respiration and respiratory metabolites in potato tubers.

Ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid, when applied in a volatile state in air to potato tubers, led to a climacteric-like upsurge in respiration. The respiratory upsurge was markedly enhanced when the volatiles were applied in 100% O(2).Ethanol induced a decline in the level of 2-phosphoglyceric acid and phosphoenolpyruvate while leading to the accumulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates including isocitrate and alpha-ketoglutarate. The action of these compounds was similar to, but independent of, the action of ethylene.